Cruisin’ the Hood – Jester

The GayMobile headed down from Portland on I-5 straight onto I-80 West towards the Bay Area – Gay Mecca.  I promised myself I’d worship at the ocean’s shore before I left the area to head to my next stop, but for now, it was off to Jester and Michael’s place.  Loathe as I am to attend a party, I’d been invited to a patented Jester event and that could not be missed, according to legend.  His hunky boyfriend Michael had given me great directions, so I slid into a parking spot and headed to the door.  The party wasn’t scheduled to start for a couple hours so I thought I’d help out.

Adorable Michael met me at the door and off in the distance I could see Jester reading a book and listening to music.  Even from a distance the handsome man’s large, vivid personality resonated.  He was in the midst of putting together a mix for a friend.  One of his specialities.  Being an avid listener, Jester is also a musician and plays in multiple bands.  He nearly scored a Nashville recording contract when he was a younger man; the adventure was fraught with highs and lows.  He even writes music while hot tubbing.

“Hey Jester,” I said, as Jester jumped off the couch.  He enveloped me in a bear hug and lifted me off the floor.

“Let’s hit the road for some supplies,” he said decisively, as he grabbed his keys.  Michael, Jester and I loaded into the car and headed down the road.  Not three blocks down, Michael spotted a particularly tragic looking queen. In unison, we turned to each other and simultaneously said, “Oh, Gurlll!” and began laughing.

I thought how well-matched the two of them were, even after eight years together.  Both are Renaissance men – creative and with varied interests.  Jester is not just a musician and owner of a cruise company, he also has the rare “privilege” of knowing what the boss looks like naked thanks to his second job as head of IT for an adult online entertainment company, and is a consummate marketer, motivator, philosopher, radio talk show host and a few hundred others things.  He is also a walking dictionary of all things American Idol, which was confusing to me but also appreciated because someone probably needs to chronicle the show in exactly the way Jester bluntly and hilariously describes AI which reminds me of how John Steinbeck might have described a Barnum & Bailey sideshow.

Jester Rocks Out!

By the time we entered the Safeway, Jester had slyly embroiled me in a discussion on whether priests should be celibate and even though I thought we were on the same side, I felt as though I was in the midst of The Great Debate. Jester loves a good argument and is up for one at the drop of a hat.  The sly grin on his face told me he knew his evil plan had worked.

Our supplies bought, we headed back to their place and busily prepared for the guests to arrive.  In time, the place was hopping.

One time I popped by, Jester was reciting large passages from “Steel Magnolias” to an appreciative audience.

The next time I checked where he was, he was telling a loud Republican who accidentally sneaked in and had just been soundly pounded in an argument over why we should have equal rights that, “I would love to blow smoke up your ass, but I just don’t have time!” as he walked the poor sucker to the door.

The final time, he was regaling the entire crowd with his adventures working at the porn company.  Now, I’d already heard this story and laughed especially hard at the embellishments he’d clearly added.  I winked at Jester conspiratorially, one embellisher to another.  His infectious smile and twinkling eyes told me he was reveling in the entire scene.

I popped into the kitchen and did a little cleanup, dropped a mix CD of my own for them to remember my visit, and quietly headed out the door as I waved to Jester and Michael.  I was still hoping to see the ocean before I headed out for my last stop on the writer’s tour.

Tags: Cruisin' the 'Hood, Gay, Jestertunes, Musician